Kampala, Uganda: Prominent Ugandan Pastor and propriator of Miracle Center Cathedral, Robert Kayanja has been accused by National Drug Authority (NDA) of promoting fake drugs.
Uganda’s bocy that ensures safety of drungs, NDA informs that, learnt of the production, distribution and use of “TICKOFF” a purported acaricide produced by CPM Wave.
This drug, according to Abiaz Rwamwiri, the NDA Spokesperson was first publicly promoted by Pastor Kayanja at one of his services at Rubaga Church during the 2022 Christmas season.
“Pastor Kayanja is on record announcing that he, together with his other accomplices had come up with an “incredible organic” product that kills ticks instantly,” Rwamwiri told reporters on Tuesday.
“Our teams engaged and met with Pastor Kayanja and his partners (Marvin Mukasa and Clinton James) who owned up the product and claimed to have a team of scientists from Makerere University School of Veterinary Medicine who were lead investigators,” he added.
NDA, Rwamwiri said reached out to the said teams, “who confessed that they had never worked or reviewed anything from Pastor Kayanja or any of his associates,”
“Pastor Kayanja and his team declined to disclose the ingredients of the product but NDA working with Uganda Police impounded over 100 samples from his church stores and took them to both NDA and Government Chemist Laboratories”
According to Rwamwiri, all the samples tested positive of contamination with dangerous and banned chemicals that include DIAZINON; a highly concentrated fumigant used to kill bedbugs, bats and termites, FIPRONIL; a spray banned for food producing animals because of long withdrawal period due to the potential risks it could have on human health and BENALAXYL; a systemic fungicide which is carcinogenic (Cancer causing potentials).
The above chemicals, he noted were being mixed with animal-feeds and “mukene” and packaged without any expiry date, ingredient information or warning.
“After disclosing to Pastor Kayanja that his product was a counterfeit, he has since closed all communication channels and instead tried to blackmail our teams,” he said.
Supply of restricted drugs with wrong container and labels, contrary to section 25 (a) and (b) NDP&A Act Cap 206 Laws of Uganda and Possession of classified drugs, contrary to section 27 (2) and section 60 of NDP&A Act Cap 206 Laws of Uganda.
“NDA condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of Pastor Kayanja for using his advantaged position to take lure desperate farmers when Uganda is faced with a challenge of tick-resistance. His intention was not only criminal but also intended to cheat Ugandans,” Rwamwiri said
“We hereby direct all farmers who had received supplies for product to drop at any police station for easy collection. We call upon the public to be vigilant and report all suspicious products on the market that could be adulterated to NDA on toll free line 0800 101 999 or WhatsApp Number 0740 002 070 as we work together in protecting public health,” he said.
~Credit: Chimpreports
